Does Deegie use “Real” Magic in The Complicated Life of Deegie Tibbs?
By C.L. Hernandez
Deegie the witch wields some weird, wonderful magic in my series, The Complicated Life of Deegie Tibbs. With a cry of “Gynecomastia!” she casts her Big Ol’ Boobs spell with comical results. The Don’t Talk to Me spell gets rid of chatty strangers, and yes, she really can turn someone into a frog! Oh, to have that kind of power! I’d love to use the Big Ol’ Boobs spell on a certain ex-boyfriend who comes to mind.
No, the magic used in The Complicated Life of Deegie Tibbs isn’t even close to being “real” magic, and I did that for a couple of reasons. First, I had to let my weird imagination have some fun creating these bizarre spells, and second, if I had used “real” magic, it would have slowed the storyline down to a crawl. In every book, Deegie has to fight off demons, and zombie crows, and all manner of creepy-crawlies. I could just see her telling them, “Hold on one sec, all you ghoulish creatures from Heck. I need to ground and center, cast a circle, and…where did I put those candles?” Still, though, I did add some elements of “real” magic in Deegie’s adventures, and I’ll list a couple of them for you here.
Salt
In a couple of scenes, Deegie uses ordinary table salt to keep a demon from crossing a threshold, and to outline a protective circle. Salt is thought to represent life in its purist form, since all life is believed to have originated from the ocean. Since some supernatural baddies are the complete opposite of life, salt is used as protection against psychic attacks and undesirable paranormal phenomena. Black salt can be used for a stronger form of protection, which, in hindsight, is probably what Deegie should have used when she battled the basement demon in A Jar of Fingers.
White Light
The white light of protection is another way Deegie shields herself from paranormal nasties. White is the color of purity, which is another thing demons and ghoulies can’t stand. White light is summoned by the magical practitioner, who then encases him or herself in it. White light can also be used for healing, as Deegie does when she revives a fallen comrade in Seven Deadly Ghosts. Despite having an unusual disability, Deegie excels at summoning white light.
Gemstones, Herbs, and Essential Oils
Many magical practitioners use gemstones, herbs, and essential oils, particularly those who practice Earth Magic. Deegie keeps hers in a carved wooden box on her fireplace mantle, and she is known for her homemade herbal blends that she sells in her shop, The Silent Cat. At the end of each Deegie Tibbs book is a bonus chapter with recipes for herbal teas, information on oils and gemstones, and much more!
The Complicated Life of Deegie Tibbs trilogy includes A Jar of Fingers, The Witch War of Fiddlehead Creek, and Seven Deadly Ghosts. The series will be released in print later this year!